Switch and holder for incandescent lamps



(No Model.)

M. J. WIGHTMAN.

SWITGH AND HOLDER FOB INGANDESO ENT LAMPS Ne. 336,191. Patented Feb.16,1886.

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V UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MERLE J. WIGHTMAN, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE SCHUYLERELECTRIC LIGHT COMPANY OF N EW' YORK.

SWITCH AND HOLDER FOR INCANDESCENT LAMPS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 336,191, dated February16, 1886.

Serial No. 170,986.

(No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MERLE J. \VIGI-ITMAN, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of Hartford, in the county of Hartford and Stateof Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSwitches and Holders for Incandescent Lamps, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to the construction of a switch and holder forincandescent electric lamps.

The invention consists, first, in a novel construction and arrangementof the switch and its supporting parts with relation to the connectionto the lamp. Y

My invention consists, further, in certain details of construction andcombination of parts that will be specified more particularly in theclaims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of aswitch and holder constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 isa side elevation and partial section of the same, the inclosing case orsleeve being removed. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the switch, showingthe same in position where the circuit is broken. Fig. 4 is a plan ofthe plates upon which the fixed connecting-terminals are mounted. Fig. 5is a vertical longitudinal section illustrating the construction of thesocket or holder, and also showing the switch in edge view. Fig. 6 is aplan of a detail of construction.

A indicates the metallic base-plate or sup port adapted for connectionby a screw or otherwise with a bracket, chandelier, or other support.Secured to said base is a plate, B, of insulating material-such, forinstance, as vulcanite-between which and the upper plate, 0, of similarmaterial, is interposed the metallic frame D, carrying the switch andits operating mechanism. The upper plate, C, carries the fixed terminalsfor making temporary connection with the electric lamp. The terminalshere shown are mounted on conducting-plates H, screwed to C, and consistof short springs I I, terminating in hooks adapted for connection tohooks or eyes at the ends ofthe metallic conductors of the lamp, asindicated in Fig. 2. The frameD is of conducting material, and is inelectrical connection with the terminal I through-the-screw which servesto hold the plate H upon the non-conducting plate C, and at the sametime to secure the latter upon the metallic irame D. The metallic frameis provided, as indicated more clearly in Fig. 5, with two standards oruprights, between which is pivoted a switch lever, E. The end S of theswitch-lever, is adapted to make and break connection with a spring, M,mounted on the non-conducting plate B, as will be presently described.The lever E is operated by a cam, F, carried by a spindlemounted in thestandards, and adapted to engage with either of the two projections ffformed upon the lever at opposite sides of its fulcrum, so that thespindle may be turned in either direction for the purpose either ofopening or closing the switch. This con struction of switch,per se,forms the subject of claim in another pending application for patenttiled by me, and no special claim is herein,

made to it.

Bearing upon the projecting portion Wofthe lever E is a spring, G,secured to the baseplate B, and formed, as shown at T, so as to assistin throwing the switch-lever into position for making and breaking thecircuit at the moment that the projection \V passes the top of theincline, (shown at T.) The spring M is made, preferably, as indicated inFig. 6, by bending a piece of metal into the form shown, so that the endS of the contact-lever may enter between the ends and make contactsimultaneously with both of them. The spring is soldered to aconducting-plate, H secured to the insulating-plate B. An electricalconnection with the wire supplying current to thelainp is made byclamping the wire against said conducting-plate, as indicated in Fig. 5.The other wire, connected with the supplyconduetors, is connected to theplate H, upon which the terminal I" is mounted, the circuit beingtherefore formed through the spring M, the switch-lever E, the frame D,the terminal I, thence to the lamp, and out by the terminal I.

M indicates a protecting case or sleeve of metal, secured to thebase-plate B or otherwise fixed in position, and L a socket or holderfor the lamp. The socket L is preferably made of sheet metal concentricwith the sleeve or case M, and is mounted so that it may slide in thetop thereof.

R indicates a spiral spring, secured to the sleeve L and resting uponthe spindle carrying the cam F, or upon other suitable support, in suchway as to tend to raise the holder or socket L from the terminals I 1which constitute the fixed terminals, being mounted upon a suitablesupport fixed with relation to said socket. Pins a pass through thesleeve M into slots in the holder L, so as to prevent the latter frombeing thrown out of position by the action of the spring R. WVhen a lampis to be inserted, the socket L is depressed against the action of thespring It, until ready access is given to the fixed terminals II". Thelamp is then connected with said terminals by means of the hooks orhook-andeye conneetions, and the socket being then released the spring Rraises the latter and holds the connecting devices in firm connection,at the same time steadying the lamp against lateral movement.

I do not limit myself to any special form of connecting devices, theprinciple of the invention consisting in the mounting of the socket orholder L upon aspring-support in such way that when the connections aremade with the lampthe latter will be forced away from said connectionsso as to draw the same into firm contact.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. In an incandescent lamp switch andhold er, the combinatiomwith the frame having the two uprights orstandards and supporting the terminals by which connection is made withthe lamp terminals, of a switch-lever mounted in said standards, andturning in a vertical plane between them. I

2. The combination, with the standards mounted on the non-conductingbase-plate, of the vertical switch-lever mounted between, and a springsecured to the base and bearing upon the lever, as described.

3. In an incandescent lamp switch and holder, the combination,with theplate carrying the terminals for connection with the lamp terminals, ofthe supporting-standards carrying an intermediate pivoted switch-levervibrating on the plane between them and a horizontal spindle providedwith a cam for operating said lever.

4. In an incandescent lamp switch and holder having the plates B G, theintermediate frame, D, the switch-lever E. pivoted between the twostandards of the frame and provided with the projections ff, incombination with the spindle N, carrying a cam for operating said lever,as and for the purpose described.

5. In an incandescent lamp switch and holder, the combination, with thetwo insulating plates B C, of the intermediate conductingframe havingthe two standards and in eleetrical connection with a connectingplate orterminal in the top of the upper insulatingplate, a switch-lever mountedbetween the standards and in electrical connection therewith, and acontact for the lever mounted on the base-plate B, as described.

Signed at Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut,this 23d day of May, A. D. 1885.

MERLE J. \VIGHTMAN'.

Witnesses:

CHAS. E. DUSTIN, W. H. NEWELL.

